Popcorn vending machine



April 3, 1 951 E. E. STYLL 2,547,291

POPCORN VENDING MACHINE Filed Jan. 27, 1947 Edson Ears/mam 579 [I 4/ ENTOR.

Patented Apr. 3, 1951 POPCORN VENDING MACHINE Edson Eastman Styli, Huntington Park, Calif., assignor to Stylon Corporation, Long Beach, Calif., a corporationof California Application January 27, 1947, Serial No. 724,508

This invention relates to an automatic popcorn vending machine which is operated mechanically by means of a hand lever and has an electrically heated measuring device.

Popcorn vending machines of the prior art which are now in popular use are electrically operated, i. e., they depend on the coin to close an electric circuit whereby an electric motor drives a vertical multi-bladed paddle wheel in a complete revolution. Some of these machines of the prior art also attempt to heat the popcorn while it is in the hopper, but such heat is relatively inefiicient since the measuring device is unheated, and much of the warmth and freshness of the popcorn is lost during its passage from the hopper through the measuring device to the paper bag.

It is an object of this invention to supply an automatic popcorn vending machine which is mechanically operated by means of a hand lever in a novel manner.

It is another object of this invention to supply such a machine in which the coin when inserted in position in the machine, serves as a connecting link through which the operation of the hand lever drives the measuring device.

Itv is a further object of this invention to supply such a machine in which the measuring device is electrically heated and is in contact with the popcorn until it is discharged from the machine, so as to retain the popcorn at substantially its maximum temperature until the very momerit of release.

, Other objects of the invention will become apparent in the following description of the machine and its operation.

Referring to the drawing, Figure 1 shows a side view of the most essential portions of the machine of this invention, and Figure 2 shows a top view. v

Referring .to both Figures 1 and 2, panel I forms the front face of the machine, and horizontal braces 2 and 5 together with vertical members 6 and 1 form a rigid framework to which the various mechanisms are attached. The popcorn measuring device consists of a paddle wheel 8 revolving on a main shaft to which it is attached and having four blades 9 and a hollow hub I 0 in which an electric heater l l is enclosed. Any type 2 Claims. (Cl. 99238.2)

'to prevent wheel Spring 20 fits into another ,of these slots, and is braided fibreglass or other suitable insulating material. The ends of the coil are connected to rings l2 with which terminals l3 make contact through spring brushes as shown. Terminals l3 are connected to a suitable source of electric power. Sufficient heat is supplied to maintain the popcorn crisp and warm without scorching it. A temperature of about F. is very suitable. The paddle wheel and blades should preferably be all metal and made of some material which is a good conductor of heat, such as aluminum for example, so as to supply a fairly uniform heat over a wide area.

Paddle wheel 8 operates within funnel l4, and is fed by means of a conventional hopper 46 in which the reserve popcorn is stored. The hopper completely surrounds the paddle wheel 8 and has an adjustable lip so as to regulate the amount of popcorn falling into the front segment. A retainer I5 made in the form of a series of spring reeds fits against the blade of the wheel which is in the lower front position, so as to keep the popcorn from dropping from the front segment of the paddle wheel until the wheel is rotated. The lower part of funnel I4 is formed into a cylindrical chute Me: which fits the inside of a popcorn bag of appropriate'size.

Paddle wheel 8 is rotated by means of driving wheel [6, which is connected to the same main shaft, and is so arranged that when a coin is properly inserted in the machine and operating lever I1 is depressed, the wheels 8 and I6 are rotated one quarter turn and the popcorn held in the front segment of the paddle wheel is dropped through funnel l4 directly out of the machine and into the bag or other receptacle placed around its chute as described above. The mechanism by which the driving wheel 16 is connected to operating lever I1 is described in the following paragraphs.

Driving wheel [6 has four equally spaced depressions 18 in its periphery. Spring !9 fits into one of these slots and is hooked at the end so as I6 from turning backward.

so shaped as to prevent movement of wheel l6 in either direction while it is depressed. Oper- .ating ratchet 2| fits into a third one of these de- 3 to form a cam, and is so positioned with respect to spring that the initial movement of the pawl lifts spring out of its slot and permits wheel E6 to rotate.

Pawl 22 is driven by means of connecting rod 23, which connects it to one section 24 of money bar 25. This money bar 25 will be described in more detail in the following paragraphs, but it may be explained here that it contains a coin pocket 34 and is made in two sections 24 and 26. These sections are free to move independently with respect to each other when no. coinisiimthe coin pocket, but are driven. as a unit. when the coin is in the pocket in the position shown. Section 26 or money bar 25 is driven by operating.

lever I! by a mechanism described below. Thus when no coin is in the pocket a depressionoflever l1 drives only section 26 of the money; bar, but when the coin is inserted in position as shown both sections 24. and 26 are driven by the depression of operating lever l1: and this serves to rotate paddle wheel 8 one quarter. turn as described above and deliver the measured charge of preheated popcorn fromthe frontsegment of the paddle wheel through funnel I4 into the popcorn Money bar 25', as mentioned above, is composed of two horizontal sections 24 and 26. Each of these may inturn be considered as composed of three lateral sections Thus of. the horizontal sectionsthe first or lower section 2 4 may be considered to be composed of bars 21 and 28 and insert 29, While the secondor upper section 26 may be considered to be composed of bars and 3| and inserts 32 and 33., Theinserts 29, 32 and 33 are the same width asv the coin, which fits in pocket 34 between them as indicated. Thus when the coin is in the position shown, insert 32 bears bar, and serves to return lever I? to its normal or up position after it has been depressed.

The above shows the principal operating mechanism, but it is clear that there are many modifications of each part as shown, which may be suificient...

The lower end of funnel M, which forms a cylindricalchute as described above, is preferably cut in a plane at an angle with the horizo ntal, so that onone edge of the coin andinsert 29 bears on the opposite edge of the coin, andthussections 2.4 and 25 must move in, unison. The coin rests on. coin table 35-which alsoserves asa support andguide for money bar 25.

In the operation of the machine the coin is inserted ina slot-35in panel I andpasses through slug rejector 31 (indicated only. in part) which dischargesthe coin-into, pocket- 34 in the money bar. When operating lever H is depressed to the end of its stroke, the coin is driven to the right withmoney bar 25, until it reaches a point just beyond the extremity of coin table .35. At this pointkicker spring 38,. serves to knock the coin downward out of. its position in the money bar into amoney box, not, shown,

Theupper sectionjfi oimoney bar 25 is operated by operatinglever, I! through lever 40 which is approximately atright angles torlever, I! and is held rigidly in positionbybrace 39. The lower end of lever 40 is pivotably attached directly to upper section26 of themoney barv and the upper end of'lever. 40. is pivotably attached tov one end of radius rod 4|, the other end of which is pivotably fastened to horizontal brace 5 of the frame- Work. Lever, I! is attached to lever 40 at an intermediate point. Thus the-unit composed of levers H and 40 together with radius rod 4 forms a free floating lever system; which, provides for a straight horizontal, motionof the, money bar'as lever I1 is depressedvertically: Leverfl' is also attached through connecting rod 42 toone end of;slug rejector operating-lever 43, which serves to operate slug rejector 31 as lever I1 is depressed. Spring 45 is attached-to'vertical member 6 of the -Iramew0rk and to upper-section 26 of -the-money the longer portion of the lip is at the front as shown. This facilitates the insertion of the chute intothe-popcornbag. Preferably also the chute is placed Within an alcove or recessed portion of the front panel I, and an open horizontal grille is placed at such a distance below thechute that the bag may be placed around the chute and rest on the grille. The grille is made of sufficiently large mesh to allowthe popcorn to pass through it readily. Thus in the event that some of the'popcorn is accidentally spilled, it may pass through the grille into'a wastereceptacle placed under the grille.

The-position of spring 20 is somewhat critical so that it is desirable to make this position ad.- justable. This may be done by employing two screws to fasten the spring to the framework, and making the holes through which the screws pass in the form of slots whichare elongated in one directionfor the spring, and elongated in a right angle direction for the support. Similarly the position of the coin table 35 should be adjustable to enable one to place, the mechanism in proper horizontal alignment-:3

Rubber pads 44 may be employed tocushion the money barj25 at each'endof its stroke. Also insert'32 in the-money bar may have a projection along its underside which fits into a recess, in insert 29, and the recess in insert 25 may be discontinued near its right end. as indicated, so as toform a stop or an engagement between sections 2.6 and 24 at any desired point when the coin is notyin the. position shown. Also the positions of each member of the mechanism may be made slightly adjustable in order to compensate for any slightinaccuraciesin the machine parts and make the equipment run more smoothly. It may also be desirable to employ a spring operated toggle placed in such a position as to aid themovement of' money bar 25 near each end of its stroke", so as to provide for a more definite return action of. the money bar and a more ready'release of. the coin at the right'end of thelstroke, i. e., at the lower extremity of the movement of lever H. The. slug rejector 31 may be a conventional slugjrejector such as that manufactured by the National Slug Rejector Company of St. Louis, Missouri. By suitable modifications, which are readilyapparent', it is also clear that the paddle wheel fimay'be made vertical rather than horizontal.

The entire popcornpvending machine may include a-cabinet within which the operating mechanism shown in the drawing may be mounted, and also; means for loading the hopper above the operatingmechanis'm, hinged or; removable top,

access'doors whereneeded, as well as ornamental lighting, receptacles for the bags, coin return cup and other equipment as desired. The primary features of the present invention however, comprise the electrically heated measuring device, the design of the money bar, and the mechanical method of operating the measuring device.

Other modifications of the invention which would occur to one skilled in the art may be made, and these are to be considered a part of the invention as defined in the following claims.

I claim:

1. A popcorn vending machine which comprises a horizontal multi-bladed paddle wheel measuring device having a hollow hub containing an electric heater, a driving wheel connected thereto and having a depression in its periphery for each blade of the paddle wheel, a spring adapted to fit in one of saiddepressions so a to prevent forward or backward rotation of said driving wheel while said spring is depressed'a pawl pivotably attached to the shaft passing through the hub of said driving wheel, said pawl having an operating ratchet at one end adapted to 'fit into another of said depressions on said driving wheel and rotate said driving wheel forward and having the form of a cam at the other end adapted to lift said spring from its depression so as to permit said forward rotation of the driving wheel, means for driving said pawl so as to rotate said driving wheel to the next depression in it periphery, hoppermeans above said paddle wheel to fill an upper segment of said paddle wheel between two of said blades with popcorn, and funnel means below said paddle wheel to receive popcorn discharged from a lower segment of said paddle wheel by the rotation of the driving wheel. p

2. A popcorn vending machine which comprises a l-bladed horizontal paddle wheel measuring device having a hollow hub containing an electric heater, means for introducing popcorn into said measuring device, said means comprising a hopper with an adjustable lip, means for said machine through a funnel having a cylindrical chute with a longer lip at the front thereof, a driving wheel connected to the same shaft as said paddle wheel said driving wheel having four equidistant depressions in its periphery, a hooked spring adapted to fit into one of said depressions so as to prevent backward rotation of said drivingwheel, a second spring adapted to fit into another of said depressions so as to prevent forwardv or backward rotation of said driving wheel while said spring is depressed, a rest arm pivotly attached to the shaft of said driving wheel, said rest arm having an operating rest at one end adapted to fit into another of said depressions on said driving wheel so as to rotate said driving wheel forward, a one quarter turn on each stroke and the other end of said rest arm being in the form of a cam adapted to lift said second spring from its depression so as to permit said forward rotation of the driving wheel, a horizontal money bar containing a coin pocket and composed of two sections, said sections being capable of independent movement with respect to each other when no coin is in said pocket but being driven as a unit when a coin is in said pocket, a connecting rod connecting the lower section of said money bar to said rest arm, a vertically moving operating lever attached to the upper section of said money bar through a free floating lever system so as to cause horizontal operation of the latter, means for introducing a coin into said machine into said coin pocket of said money bar at one end of its stroke, and means for discharging said coin from said pocket at the other end of its stroke.

EEDSON EASTMAN STYLL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record. in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name 1 Date 502,891 Schultze Aug. 8, 1893 851,188 Vaughn Apr. 23, 1907 898,654 Jenkins Sept. 15, 1908 2,388,497 Pease Nov. 6, 1945 

